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Home > Blogs > Sir Critic on Cinema > Archives > 2006 > August > 07 > Entry
Will you see ‘World Trade Center’?
The Twin Towers will rise again Wednesday when theaters begin to play Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center, 2006’s second 9/11 film.
I have seen the movie. I won’t review it until Wednesday, but I will say that I chose the words “rise again� in the first paragraph for a reason. Right now, I’m wondering how audiences will take to it.
Paul Greengrass’ United 93, which came out in April, earned loads of critical raves (including mine), but the box office returns were mild, topping out at $31 million. While that number is quite respectable for a film that was so relentlessly intense, it seemed that not many people wanted to endure it. More’s the pity, since I thought it was uniquely uplifting, in its own way.
World Trade Center will fare much better, I think. It has recognizable actors, including Nicolas Cage, and it’s rated PG-13 instead of R. Don’t let Oliver Stone’s presence fool you – the director is concerned with telling a good story well, not in spinning ludicrous conspiracy theories like the ones in Loose Change, a documentary widely circulated on the Net. Rather like Apollo 13, Stone’s movie is inspiring in a way that most moviegoers will find relatively easy to digest.
As Newsweek’s David Ansen put it, “Perhaps, in the future, the times will call for more challenging, or polemical, or subversive visions. Right now, it feels like the 9/11 movie we need.�
Will you see World Trade Center? Did you see United 93? If you did, what do you expect of the new movie? If not, do you think World Trade Center will be easier to watch?
Permalink | Comments (14) | Categories: Coming Attractions
Comments
By Allie D.
August 13, 2006 1:34 PM | Link to this
So not seeing the movie means it would embolden the terrorists? Wow… that’s quite a leap, or shall i say, complete drop-off in logic. Burying our head in the sand and choosing to remain ignorant, to not revisit the lessons we were all supposed to have learned that day- the importance of unity and sacrifice- is in no way admirable. Not wanting to see the movie because you aren’t ready to face the emotional impact is one thing, but to say that it is helping al Qaeda win is ludicrous. The way to defeat terrorists is to live without fear, in SPITE of their efforts. Hiding from what happened that day is, in fact, playing right into their hands. Oh and in case it’s not obvious by this message- I plan on seeing this movie. I was one of the naysayers who after seeing United 93 said that there was nothing that could touch it. Eric’s review sold me.By Ismael
August 11, 2006 12:52 PM | Link to this
I wont go see it.. Al quada is probably jumping with joy that we still remember thier attack on us and they really have us emotionally torn up.. Thats how we give them strength through fear and intimidation. Thank you hollywood and thanks to the american people who still feel they need to pay $$$ to see something that still haunts them. Stay home with your children and talk with them about this.. Thats far more valuable then a matinee ticket.By mia
August 8, 2006 12:28 PM | Link to this
I will be seeing this movie. I’m so tired of hearing about how Hollywood is all about money, of course it is. That why we all work people. Oh well…It’ll be good to see what good had come out of this bad, terrible incident. These people that this movie is portraying are heroes. United 93 was a tough movie to watch. It was good, but just a hard movie to watch. I am glad that I did see it though.By SRCputt
August 8, 2006 6:57 AM | Link to this
“The problem with film as an art form is that it’s a business. The problem with film as a business is that it’s an art form.” — Charlton Heston To say World Trade Center is ALL about the money is ridiculous. I believe for most if not all involved with the film, it evolved from the sincere desire to pay tribute to those who tried to help that day, especially the police officers.By Shell
August 8, 2006 1:02 AM | Link to this
Yes, I will be seeing WTC in the theatre upon its release. It is a poignant reminder to a day that will forever live in everyone’s memory. It will also hopefully bring back some of the patriotism and respect for our Firefighters, Paramedics, and Police Officers. As well as our Armed Services. It is too quickly we have forgotten the sacrifice that these brave men and women do daily, to put their lives on the line for people they do not know. To all Firefighters, Paramedics, Military Personnel, and Police Officers…..I thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!!!!By porschemom
August 7, 2006 11:18 PM | Link to this
I’m not a movie fan anyway, so no, I will not be seeing this in the theater if ever. As far as remembering 9/11, it has taken me years to come to grips with what I witnessed on TV. The moment those towers collapsed is etched in my memory forever. If you want to recapture the patriotism and love from the aftermath of 9/11, or if you want a historical perspective, I highly recommend a trip to Shanksville, PA, where Flight 93 crashed. It’s in the middle of nowhere. You drive for miles before reaching the location. Then you wonder if you are in the right place, until you crest the slight rise in the two lane road and see the gravel parking lot and temporary office. When you gaze over the field, the gravity of what happened there hits you so hard it nearly takes away your very breath. Only a few seconds delay and that flight may have crashed into a school filled with children, or a small industrial town bustling with mid-morning activity. A few minutes, and it could have struck the capitol. Skip the theater. Take a pilgrimage.By DJ
August 7, 2006 7:42 PM | Link to this
I will go see the movie. I think that this perfect timing for these movies. U know what even if u don’t want to see the movie it is apart of our nations history. By saying that u don’t want to see this movie is like saying that u think it was a disgrace to make movies about the attack on Pearl Harbor. So many people in this country have become so ungrateful, they don’t respect each other and that is what this country is about. I mean if the families approve of it then why not go and see it. I personally can not wait to go and see it. I like to see how they can recreate something that serious. Just like Flight 93. It amazed me on how well they were able to create a movie just by goin by phone calls received from the passengers who lost their lives. So I am very anxious for this movie.By MisterG
August 7, 2006 5:59 PM | Link to this
I missed “United 93” due to work obligations and a general indifference to seeing it theatrically, but I’ll be sure to catch up to it on DVD, when I can examine and re-examine it at my leisure. I’ll definitely be seeing “World Trade Center” in the theater, if only because I admire Stone as a filmmaker and Cage as an actor, and the story will be all the more timely and discussable with that 5th anniversary of the attack on the horizon. To Leonard, I can only say that emotional release can be healthy for you. To Tania, I suspect you lost someone in the attack. You also seem to fail to understand that Hollywood (and everyone else who makes movies) does what it does to make money. Every other reason to make movies is secondary to that imperative. It remains to be seen at the box office if they were right about “World Trade Center.” It could well be that others have more of an interest in seeing this film than you do.By debi
August 7, 2006 3:53 PM | Link to this
There is no way that I will see this movie. I don’t have the stomach for it. When the event occured, I happened to be watching tv. I saw people jumping from the top floors before the tv station realized what was happening and stopped showing the people falling to their death.By Lenord
August 7, 2006 3:01 PM | Link to this
Why would I want to see a movie that is going to make me cry?By Tania
August 7, 2006 1:45 PM | Link to this
I will not be seeing this movie! I find it absolutely repulsive for hollywood to release this. I don’t need a movie to remember what happened that day, the images are burned into my soul. The fifth year anniversary may be fast approaching, but the pain, anger, fear, etc. are still just as fresh. Time may heal all wounds, but 5,10, 25 years may not be long enough. If you want to relive it, watch a documentary with real heroes and survivors, not multimillionaire actors who get to go home to their posh malibu estates.By Jeff
August 7, 2006 12:02 PM | Link to this
It’s all about MONEY……just like everything else in this country. How morbid to make a movie and be reminded of something so tragic that happened in our country. Give me a break.By Socialwrkr
August 7, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this
I plan to go see WTC at the theaters. I saw over the weekend a special MTV did that included interviews with Oliver Stone, Nick Cage and one of the survivors. They convinced me that while I will be overwhelmed with the memories, I will also remember the positive flow of emotion and coming together that we had back on 9-11. I didn’t go see United 93 in the theaters, because I wasn’t sure I could handle the emotion of that particular film at that time, but I will rent it. I don’t think it’s too soon for these movies, simply because we need to remember the outpouring of patriotism and love we had for each other. I think we are forgetting that and we need it back. I’m hoping this movie can spark some of that.By Kei
August 7, 2006 9:56 AM | Link to this
I highly doubt I will see the movie. There’s just something about it being made that sets me off a little. I won’t get to ranting here, so I’ll just say again that I really doubt I’ll be going to see it.